Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 Sep;65(3):239-242.

Bilateral Pulmonary Infiltrate with Milky BAL Fluid

• Yoon GC
• Moon JY
• Kim HO
• Kim JH
• Ha ES
• Lee KJ
• Lee EJ
• Hur GY
• Kang EH
• Jung KH
• Lee SY
• Kim JH
• Lee SY
• Shin C
• Shim JJ
• In KH
• Kang KH
• Yoo SH

Abstract

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is an uncommon disease that's caused by aspirating lipid formulations. Squalene, obtained from shark liver oil, is one of the causative agent and this is commonly used by some Koreans as a health promoting medication. We report here on a case of exogenous lipoid pneumonia that developed after ingestion of squalene capsules. The case showed milky BAL fluid and multiple pulmonary consolidations.

Keyword

Pneumonia; Lipid; Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; Squalene

MeSH Terms

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
Capsules
Eating
Liver
Pneumonia
Sharks
Squalene
Capsules
Squalene

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest radiograph on admission reveals the patchy consolidation on RML and LLL.

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  Figure 2 Chest CT demonstrates the relatively low-attenuating consolidation with multifocal patchy ground glass opacity in RML, lingular segment, and LLL.

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  Figure 3 Gross appearance of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid demonstrates "milky appearance with yellowish supernatant material."

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  Figure 4 BAL fluid (A) and lung tissue specimen from video-assisted thoracic biopsy (B) show diffuse collection of foamy alveolar macrophages in the alveolar spaces and bronchiolar lumina with severe inflammation (Sudan III stain, ×100).

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